Sharp Football Analysis retains Bengals’ defensive front seven at 26th despite roster overhaul
Warren Sharp’s 2025 assessment leaves Cincinnati unchanged while Giants plummet and Ravens surge, sparking debate over the valuation of Dexter Lawrence and Trey Hendrickson.
Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis has ranked the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive front seven 26th in the NFL for the 2025 season, a position that remains unchanged from their 2024 standing. The assessment follows a significant overhaul of the unit, which included the acquisition of defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants and the signing of pass rusher Boye Mafe, alongside the departure of Trey Hendrickson to the Baltimore Ravens.
The ranking has drawn criticism for perceived inconsistencies in how player movements influenced team evaluations. Sharp’s analysis explicitly noted the impact of Lawrence and Hendrickson, yet the statistical outcomes for their respective teams suggest a disparity in valuation. The New York Giants’ front seven dropped 14 spots, falling from fourth to 18th, following the trade of Lawrence to Cincinnati.
Conversely, the Baltimore Ravens surged to the 10th spot after acquiring Hendrickson. This rise occurred despite the Ravens’ defensive line being ranked near the bottom of the league in the previous season. Sharp’s commentary highlighted the addition of Hendrickson, Calais Campbell, and Zion Young as key factors in elevating the unit to the top 10.
Cincinnati’s defensive struggles were evident last season, with the team generating pressure in 2.5 seconds or less on just 15% of opponent dropbacks, ranking 31st in the NFL. To address these issues, the Bengals added Jonathan Allen to bolster the interior defence and signed Mafe, who recorded 40 pressures in a rotational role last season. The linebacker group also saw the addition of veterans to support Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter, both of whom endured difficult rookie campaigns.
Despite these additions, the Bengals’ ranking has not moved, leading to questions regarding the mathematical consistency of the assessment. Critics argue that the loss of Lawrence did not sufficiently penalise the Giants, while the addition of Hendrickson disproportionately boosted the Ravens. There is also uncertainty regarding Hendrickson’s ability to improve Cincinnati’s running defence given his age and previous performance trends.
